Persatuan Geologi Malaysia
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ISSN 0126-5539 PERSATUAN GEOLOGI MALAYSIA NEWSLETTER OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MALAYSIA KANDUNGAN (Contents) CATATAN GEOLOGI (Geological Notes) T.T. Khoo: On the trail of Hang Tuah's footprint 81 PERTEMUAN PERSATUAN (Meetings of the Society) Malam Jurutera III 85 Annual General Conference 2002 -Report 87 Ucapan oleh Dr. Ismail Yusoff, Pengerusi Penganjur AGC 2002 88 Ucapan oleh Prof. Madya Dr. Abdul Ghani Rafek, Presiden PGM 90 Ucapan Perasmian oleh Y.A.B. Dato' Tuan Guru Haji Nik Abdul Aziz 92 Nik Mat Programme 96 Poster Presentation 99 Abstracts of Papers 103 Abstracts of Posters 121 BERITA-BERITA PERSATUAN (News of the Society) Keahlian (Membership) 137 Pertukaran Alamat (Change of Address) 137 Current Addresses Wanted 138 Pertambahan Baru Perpustakaan (New Library Additions) 138 BERITA-BERITA LAIN (Other News) 14th SEAPEX Exploration Conference Singapore 139 Quotable Quotes 140 Kalendar (Calendar) 141 fb I Majlis (Council) 2002/03 Presiden (President) Abdul Ghani Rafek Naib Presiden (Vice-President) Mohd. Shafeea Leman Setiausaha (Secretary) Ahmad Tajuddin Ibrahim Penolong Setiausaha (Asst. Secretary) Ismail Yusoff Bendahari (Treasurer) Lee Chai Peng Pengarang (Editor) TehGuanHoe Presiden Yang Dahulu (Immediate Past President) : Ibrahim Komoo <. Ahll-Ahll Majlls;~CoUnclllorS) . 2002-2004 2002-2003 Abdul Rahim Samsudin Abdul Rasid Jaapar Chow Weng Sum Liew Kit Kong Ibrahim Abdullah Tan Boon Kong Nik Ramli Nik Hassan Wan Fuad Wan Hassan Jawatankuasa Kecil Pengarang (Editorial Subcommittee) Teh Guan Hoe (PengerusilChairman) Fan Ah Kwai Ng Tham Fatt J.J. Pereira Lembaga Penasihat Pengarang (Editorial Advisory Board) Aw Peck Chin C.A. Foss Mazlan Madon Tan Boon Kong Azhar Hj. Hussin N.S. Haile Ian Metcalfe Tan Teong Hing K.R. Chakraborty C.S. Hutchison S. Paramananthan Teoh Lay Hock Choo Mun Keong Lee Chai Peng Senathi Rajah Wan Hasiah Abd. Chu Leng Heng Leong Lap Sau P.H. Stauffer Yeap Cheng Hock ... About the Society C'J)J."> The Society was founded in 1967 with the aim of promoting the advancement of earth sciences particularly in Malaysia and the Southeast Asian region. The Society has a membership of about 600 earth scientists interested in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian regions. The membership is worldwide in distribution. Published by the Geological Society of Malaysia, Department of Geology, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 603-7957 7036 Fax: 603-7956 3900 E-mail: [email protected] Printed by Art Printing Works Sdn. Bhd" 29 Jalan Rlong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. On the trail of Hang Tuah's footprint T.T. KHoo 17, Orange St., Eastwood 2122 Australia Abstract: The so-called Hang Tuah's footprint in a quartz vein at Cape Rachado, Port Dickson, is a solution cavity. The stories of Hang Tuah and Zheng He of monkeys scampering over the outcrop where (in modern pinyin but locally spelled as Cheng the footprint is located and playfully waiting Ho) have fascinated and triggered the for the company of tourists. The site also has imagination of generations of Malaysians. These permanent shelters. A Chinese wok installed 15th century celebrities had not only left their over a stove there is of the size seen in Chinese marks on the pages of Malaysian history but tin mines able to cater for 100 workers in one their more avid fans believe that they had also sitting indicating the site is well equipped for left more permanent impressions as footprints boom time. on Malaysian rocks. At Cape Rachado, near I am as yet uncertain what sort of favours Port Dickson, Hang Tuah was supposed to have are solicited by the devotees. As Hang Tuah, a left a footprint and it was reported in the Sunday Lakxamana in 15th century Malacca, had a Star (30th March 1986) that Zheng He had left reputation for bravery and skills in combat, it even bigger footprints, one at Batu Maung (in is possible that the devotees believe the spirit granite), near the Penang International Airport of Hang Tuah could be prevailed upon to remove and one in Langkawi (exact location not evil influences, if any, in the way of whatever mentioned). The sites of these footprints are is desirable. Also, according to the Sejarah places of worship for believers, however Melayu (Malay Annals), Hang Tuah was a sort misplaced as this note will attempt to show. of 15th century sex icon who made such a Here, I shall only fo cus on the so-called Hang favourable impression in Majapahit (J ava) that Tuah's footprint as I have made visits there 'wives and maidens alike were all a-flutter at over a period of more than 10 years when I had the sight of the Lakxamana' and 'such was the the opportunity of using the facilities of a nearby passion of the women of Majapahit for the resort. Laksamana' that they were advised to take It is noted in the Sunday Star report sireh 'to allay the pangs of whole day's love' mentioned above that good luck will be bestowed (Sejarah Melayu, p. 69-70, translated by Brown, on the person ligh ting candles at the Batu 1970). Perhaps this fact (or fiction) is also Maung site. At the Cape Rachado site believers tantalizing to the gallants among the devotees. have also lit red candles on the rock where the Appreciation of any perceived divine intervention so-called footprint is located. On one occasion in the gaining of wealth or assistance in acts of I have seen the sacrifice oftwo live white goats. chivalry could have resulted in the sacrifices The prosperity of the Cape Rachado site mentioned earlier and no doubt to be followed fluctuates. It can be quite deserted with troops by the woking up of feasts at the site. ISSN 0126-5539 Warta Geologi, Vol. 28, No.3, May-fun 2002, pp. 81 - 84 82 T.T. KHoo Geologists are familiar with the Abrasion by sediments has little to even no preservation as molds or casts offossil footprints role in the deepening of the solution cavities as and tracks in soft sediments which have is evident from the development of the rock subsequently lithified. Fossil human footprints chimneys. At Telaga Tujuh, one ofthe chimneys are also known in the literature and Figure 1 filled to the brim with water has a diameter of shows a 5,000 years old footprint of a barefooted about 2 m and a depth of more than 5 m. early Australian in Holocene littoral dolomitic Water at a depth of 2 m or more in the vertical mudstone in South Australia (Belperio et al., chimney is dead still and sediments at the 1990). However, the so-called Hang Tuah's bottom rest in peace. Any deepening is clearly footprint is not so convincing. It is a hole in a by solution and not abrasion. hard quartz vein outcrop slightly less than 2 m Given that solution cavities can be of every thick (Fig. 2). The shape of the hole is not possible shapes it will not be difficult to find evident unless it is filled with water. Tourist other occurrences of the so-called footprints. guides routinely obtain water from drums of Figure 3 is one such 'footprint' developed in rain water nearby and pour it into the hole for granitic rock which the author chanced upon the purpose. Pouring cold water over the myth while doggedly rambling under the midday sun. is evidently not sacrilegious. The outline of the hole resembles that of a human wearing The recognition of the footprint to be a some kind of footwear owing to the absence of solution cavity adds to the list of geological toes. Compared to the petit Size 6 in Figure 2, features worshipped by some people in Malaysia. the footprint is estimated to be Size 10-12 Exfoliated slabs of granite and weathering befitting someone the stature of Hang Tuah remains of granitic rocks, inselbergs and perhaps. Unlike the soft sediment treaded menhirs, in parts of Negeri Sembilan and upon by the early Australian whose footprint Malacca, were and still are objects of worship appears in Figure 1, any footprint to be so and reverence. Peculiarly shaped dripstone impressed on the hard quartz vein would require deposits bearing some resemblance to the the quartz to be pulverized underfoot up to a elephantine Ganesha and boulders of somewhat depth of about 10 cm. This is not possible unless in the realm of kung-fu fantasy. The hole in the quartz vein is a solution cavity. Twidale (1982) has given a very detailed account of the development of solution cavities in hard rocks like granites which are generally considered to be almost insoluble. The rocks are soluble albeit more slowly than the more familiar limestone. Solution cavities come in all shapes and sizes and they can develop anywhere in the rock where water persistently accumulate. Potholes like those developed in syenite-monzonite in Jeram Besu, Benta are solution cavities and deeper potholes which are cylindrical are called chimneys like those developed in granite at Telaga Tujuh waterfall, Langkawi. The upper waterfall behind the Merbok Museum, Kedah has a solution cavity in granite which has the shape and depth of a modern bath tub with fresh water flowing in at Figure 1. Holocene fossil footprint of an early one end and out at the other (naturally, a Australian (H) overprinting footprint of an emu (E). favourite wallowing hole of the author!). Figure is from Belperio et al. (1990). Warta Geologi, Vol. 28, No. 3, May-fun 2002 ON THE TRAIL OF HANG TUAH'S FOOTPRINT 83 Figure 2. The so-called Hang Tuah's footprint in quartz vein at Cape Rachado, Port Dickson. W, patch of red candle wax beside the cavity.